Upside Down Cats

Things I've learned since becoming a freelance writer

4. I'm still not a morning person. Unlike the two decades that I woke at the crack of dawn to be ready to welcome daycare children every morning, I rarely have to get up early any more. I often wondered throughout those years if I would dislike mornings as much if I didn't "have" to get up so early...

Yep - still do.

No matter what, I just don't function right before 9:00 or 10:00 AM. That's just the way it is. At least I don't have to fight City Hall anymore. Another win.

Things I've learned since becoming a freelance writer

3. I love the way my mind works. I've always known I was smart but recently I've discovered that I'm a really good thinker. To me, that means that not only do I learn easily but I make valid and logical cognitive leaps. I'm insatiably curious and I love to research and figure things out. Nothing thrills me intellectually like the pieces of a knowledge puzzle coming together to reveal the big picture.

Nothing makes me feel more comfortable in my own skin than knowing I've got it going on upstairs. It's the most meaningful type of beauty - a beautiful mind. 

Things I've learned since becoming a freelance writer

2. I am quite interesting. (You'd know that if you'd shut the hell up and LISTEN to me!)

Perhaps it comes from being the youngest in a household of terribly interesting people - I grew up without trusting that I had a "voice" worth listening to. Or maybe I cultivated it within myself by internalizing a myriad of self-doubts and negative experiences along the way that convinced me that I didn't have much of interest to say and was therefore easily ignored. Whatever the cause, I naturally fell into the habit of being "shy" - not forthcoming with opinions or emotions, unwilling to share my "real self" with many people, for fear of experiencing the lack of respect and the rejection that is manifested by being ignored.

But I've overcome it - especially in the last several years. I have learned that I am indeed quite interesting, clever, intelligent and not a bad conversationalist - IF you bother to listen. I will not, however, beg for your attention. If your pet, children or another conversation is more compelling than I am to you, by all means, heed what you must. But should you be interested in what I have to say, you most likely won't be disappointed.

In fact, rather than accept being ignored, now I am insulted by it. If listening to me isn't worth a few moments of your undivided attention (which I respectfully give to others) then I see that as an unwillingness to really know me. I'm not fast food you can consume without thought. I'm a real meal, worth savoring, at least for a little while.

It's NaBloPoMo Again!

Yes, for a brief time I thought I would pass on NaBloPoMo this year. It's quite a commitment of time and thought. I wondered if I had it in me this year to commit to blogging every day throughout the month of November. Business is brisk and the days slip by so swiftly...did I really have time for this?

Apparently, the answer is, "Yes, yes I do." Or maybe more accurately, "Yes, I want to." After all, I've been participating in National Blog Posting Month since 2007 - that's a track record of which I'm proud and would regret breaking. While blogging - now that I'm a "professional writer" - gets pushed to the bottom of my to-do list, I still love and cherish the opportunity to write just for the sheer joy of personal expression.

Although blogging on a theme isn't a NaBloPoMo requirement, I've never done NaBloPoMo without one, so here's my 2011 theme:

drum roll please...

Things I've learned since becoming a freelance writer

Let me tell you, this career reinvention has been an education! I've made a list of lessons learned and I'll share one per day during the month of November. So that's the plan.

I've already mentioned #1 a couple times in this very post -

1. I am a listmaniac. (As a professional writer, I'm authorized to create my own words - it's in the bylaws.)

I can't imagine the concept of facing a day without a list. If it enters my mind, it must go on a list. Otherwise, "it" stays in my mind, rattling around aimlessly in some ill-fated attempt to process itself - without the all-important procedural step of being placed on a list. In fact, since my discovery of Springpad, a personal organization program, I even make lists of my lists. Oh my.

In another lifetime, another universe, I am Dr. Sue, communicating with these apes, learning more from them than they learn from me. If I had to answer the question, "What other profession would I pursue?" it would he that of Dr. Sue - anthropologist. Discovering "human" characteristics in animals reminds me not how much they are like us but how much we are like them. Her research touches me like little else, reminding me that just because we are human doesn’t mean we are the most intelligent, cleverest, most creative, kindest and wisest. That is the most uplifting message I can imagine.

Do yourself a favor and check out this video:

Thanks to Roger Ebert for Tweeting the link to this video. 

I have been rejected for a writing gig for which I recently applied. While on one level, it stings and feels like a blow to my ego and talent, I am not feeling all that bad about it. Upon considerable reflection on the situation, I've decided that it was actually for the best. (I promise you this is not a case of "sour grapes.") It simply comes down to this: I am insulted - and here's why.

I was excited for the opportunity to write and submit a sample as an "audition" for a freelance case study writer for this "financial guru" guy, promising a steady stream of work to the successful candidate. The "assignment" was to use the provided emails and survey results to craft a case study about a woman who had experienced great career gains after having taken his course. I followed his instructions and submitted an articulate, creative and compelling case study of which I was exceedingly proud. Having sent it, I was feeling optimistic but trying not to get my hopes up too high. I had resolved that, whatever happened, it had been a great experience and had demonstrated just how much I enjoy the process of case study writing. The hardest part, frankly, (to quote Tom Petty) was the waiting to hear one way or the other.

Continue reading "The Rewards of NOT Getting the Job" »

A case study - in case you aren't familiar with the term - is a factual vignette presented as a short story. Think of it as a verbal snapshot of a specific situation. They're intended to draw the reader into a scenario in which he identifies with the subject and/or the problem presented in the case study. They're often open-ended, sparking the reader's independent consideration of the issue.

Writing case studies differs from other the other types of professional writing I do (like articles, eBooks, blog posts, instructional guides and website text) due to their particular purpose and unique format. Since I first became aware of them, case studies have seemed like an interesting challenge. I've thought of interesting topics over the last few months and added them to my independent projects to-do list, to write when I have free time. Lately it seems case studies are everywhere and they're wanting to be written by me!

At first I was leery of writing case studies because of their very nature which is quite unlike all those other pieces I write and especially my "anything goes so long as it flows" style which I employ here on my blog. No, case studies are more like writing poetry, complete with definitive guidelines distinguishing their construction from that of plain ol' prose.

Continue reading "Cooking Up Some Tasty Case Studies" »

Back by popular demand - my What's Cookin' feature! I guess everyone wants to know the answer to that 'burning' question and since I'm a big believer in giving the people what they want, here goes:

As I always do (even lo these many months when I haven't posted them here) I plan our meals in advance for the upcoming week.

Lemon pasta, chicken & broccoli "stirfry."

Beef Parmesan sandwiches, home fries & salad

Homemade macaroni & cheese & oven roasted broccoli, cauliflower, carrots & zucchini

Beef & broccoli with sesame udon noodles

Bacon, egg & cheese bagel sandwiches & yogurt parfaits w/ strawberries & granola

Kielbasa, macaroni & cheese & coleslaw

Hash brown skillet with crabmeat, poached eggs & hollandaise sauce, fruit salad and orange juice

Flounder w/ white wine & shallots, brown rice pilaf & sautéed green beans & cauliflower

I'll try to keep up with this, since I've heard from so many friends and family that they really miss reading these. I hate the thought of disappointing!

I write not only to express my feelings but to make sense of them in the first place - my own personal form of “cognitive therapy.” I am especially glad for my blog today for providing me the outlet to express what I’m feeling on an occasion I’d rather not acknowledge.

My mom passed away one year ago today. The first feeling that fact elicits is annoyance at myself for how easily I remember this date and not the hundreds of others of far greater significance to my relationship with Mom. In truth, I don’t want to remember today - the anniversary of the last day of her life. When I remember Mom, I want to remember all those days that far preceded that day - that day where her weak and frail body accepted and surrendered to death. I want to remember Mom as a robust woman, full of life and seemingly boundless energy (at least until about 7:30 each evening when she would fall asleep in her chair reading the newspaper).

Continue reading "Reflection: One Year Later" »

It's Valentine's Day - the day we celebrate LOVE in all its many forms: Romantic Love, True Love, First Love, Endless Love, Brotherly Love, Puppy Love, Jungle Love, Courtney Love, Muskrat Love...you get the point.

It occurs to me that as happy an occasion as Valentine's Day is, that it is yet another example of our propensity to place those higher aspirations we as humans possess in a box which we parade out only once a year to great fanfare. This makes me a bit sad because this is the good stuff and should be used - or at least displayed - every day of the year.

I want to encourage us to stop thinking of LOVE as the good china - go ahead and use it every day. Instead of taking it for granted, I guarantee it will make every day feel more special. Love doesn't need a special occasion to be shown and cherished. Love doesn't have to be demonstrated with trinkets and chocolate and flowers and canoodling - not that I have anything against any of those (especially the canoodling). Continue reading "My Valentine to the World" »